Hendon's Ryman League Premier Division playoff hopes took a big hit on Monday night when Lowestoft Town left Earlsmead with all three points following a late penalty. The match was almost a mirror image of the Greens' Saturday victory at Metropolitan Police in that the two teams cancelled each other out all over the pitch and one key mistake settled a game that really deserved to end goalless.

Sam Flegg, Ryan Wharton, Adam Wallace and Archange Nkumu came into a refreshed starting 11, with the injured James Fisher absent and Anthony Thomas, Leon Smith and Jose Figura on the bench. Lowestoft, whose squad this season is smaller than in previous campaigns, named only three substitutes - all they needed.

Defences dominated in the first half, with neither team getting a clear sight of the opposition's goal. Chris Seeby, Wharton, Flegg and Casey Maclaren enjoyed as much success dealing with the Trawlerboys' front men as Wallace, Michael Bryan and Jack Bennett met frustration when they attacked.

Kevin Maclaren, Nkumu and Lee O'Leary all found a couple of good positions going forward, but the ball didn't arrive in time before they were closed down by Lowestoft's midfield.

Bryan and Bennett linked up well in the 34th minutes, but Andrew Fisk just beat Wallace to the low cross and his intervention went out for a corner, though the ball did go very close to his near post.

Hendon did get two free-kicks in attacking positions. The first struck the defensive wall and was ferried away with ease. The second one deflected away for a corner, and just might have been the only attempt on target from either team in the opening 45 minutes.

The first half, if rather lacking goalmouth incident, at least was interesting because the teams were so well-matched. The second period, still equally competitive, lacked the same verve and invention as fear of defeat gripped both sets of players.

Tempers became a little frayed though not in a confrontational way, more as desperation took hold. Lowestoft were proactive earlier, sending on Erkan Okay and Curtis Haynes-Brown (for Michael Frew and Stuart Ainsley, respectively) before the Greens made a change, Thomas replacing Nkumu.

In the 78th minute, a Jack Ainsley free-kick found Chris Henderson is space beyond the far post. His effort was brilliantly blocked by the legs of Joe McDonnell to keep the scores level.

With around 10 minutes remaining, Lowestoft made their final change, Adam Smith taking over from Robert Eagle, while Hendon sent on Leon Smith, at the tiring Wallace's expense five minutes later.

Hendon's luck ran out in the 86th minute when a trailing leg saw Okay go over. The referee had no doubt it was a penalty and duly pointed to the spot.

Lowestoft have had issues from 12 yards out in recent times and it was Jack Ainsley who stepped up to take responsibility for the spot-kick. His strike was firm and true, beating McDonnell's dive.

Figura came on for Flegg as Hendon desperately looked for an equaliser, but the Lowestoft defence held firm. Their celebrations at the final whistle - the win lifted them to fourth in the table - showed how much the victory meant to them.